Alvin Hollingsworth (Alvin Carl Hollingsworth)

Alvin Hollingsworth's original oil painting, "You're Part of Art", initially raises some interesting questions. Bearing the artist's distinctive 'A. C. Hollingsworth' signature within the image to the lower left, the painting exhibits many of the elements one associates with his work, such as the bright, almost florescent, splashes of color and the elongated representations of the figures. Yet what does one make of the somewhat 'Barbie and Ken'-like couple in the foreground and the fact that we are witnessing the final preparations for a television program through a somewhat archaic TV set. This seems like a strange theme for a leading African-American artist best known for his paintings relating to the Civil Rights Movement and the experience of African-Americans within the urban landscape.

Much light was cast upon this intriguing painting when I found the "Alvin C. Hollingsworth Papers, 1960-1970" at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Amongst other items the file contains "Six letters from admirers of Hollingsworth's TV show, 1969-1970" (www.aaa.si.edu/collections/alvin-c-Hollingsworth-papers-7789). Further research confirmed that Alvin Carl Hollingsworth hosted a ten part series for NBC Network in 1970 entitled, "You're Part of Art".

This painting then relates to Alvin Carl Hollingsworth's own impressions of the mass medium of television. With his notes in his hand the African American man might very well be a self-portrait. With his back to the camera the director is giving him his cue. Multi colored lights and reflectors are seen on the ceiling. Finally we come to the blissful young couple dominating the foreground. Perhaps they hearken back to an earlier stage of Al Hollingsworth's career. He began his artistic life as a comic book artist and produced imagery in most of that field's genres, such as mystery, war, horror and, yes, romance.

Yet by framing the scene within an antiquated television set Hollingsworth has, I believe, pushed the painting to higher levels. The African-American couple, especially the man, look slightly awkward and unsure of themselves. This stands in direct contrast to 'Barbie and Ken' who are so secure in themselves that they pay no attention to the events on the set. They appear to be in complete control. While filming "You're Part of Art" did Alvin Hollingsworth feel he was the token African American artist in a white dominated medium? Perhaps. Do 'Barbie and Ken' stand as symbols for an industry with a long history of mostly vacuous programming? Again, perhaps.

This original painting bears no title. Yet I cannot resist calling it "You're Part of Art", not only because of the associated television series, but because it is entirely appropriate for this image. For here the hosts, the director, 'Barbie and Ken', the lights and even the television set have indeed all become "Part of Art".

Finally, mention should be made of the writing that appears on the director's chop block; "Murphy T. V." This may simply be the name of the director, however, during the 1950's a company with this name produced televisions of a similar structure that one sees in "You're Part of Art". Possibly Alvin Hollingsworth owned a 'Murphy T.V.' at some point in time.